SouthLeft

Who dat?! Who dat?! Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?! Oh my god, I can’t describe the feeling I felt when the 23 year old rookie kicker, Garrett Hartley, kicked the game winning field goal in overtime to send the New Orleans Saint to the Super Bowl. 

It was probably the happiest moment of my life (second to my wedding of course ). That moment wouldn’t have been as memorable if it wasn’t for my favorite bar, Clancy’s, and the big group of NYC friends that joined in to share in this momentous occasion. I know that the Saints may not be your team or that you may not even follow football at all, but it meant a whole lot to have everyone there with us through every up and down of that game. But mostly, it was so great to celebrate the win and share that emotion with you. I’m pretty sure I hugged a few strangers amidst all of the excitement, but i doubt they minded.

I realize that football is just a sport, and this was just a game, but to a New Orleans Saints fan, this is bigger than that. This team is a part of New Orleans, sewn in it’s fabric. The Saints are just as much a part of this city as gumbo, Bourbon Street, and Mardi Gras. When the Saints do well, the city gets injected with life.

As I’m sure everyone knows, New Orleans was trampled by hurricane Katrina 5 years ago and ultimately deemed lost. It takes a lot to bounce back from something like that, but New Orleans is making a comeback. With our Saints in the Super Bowl and a potential win on the horizon, we might just move past that stigma and be thought of as the city that won.

I think the Saints head coach, Sean Payton, said it best after winning the NFC Championship:

This is for everybody in this city. This stadium used to have holes in it and used to be wet. It’s not wet anymore. This is for the city of New Orleans.

In the team’s 42 years, this is their first chance at a Super Bowl victory. This is history in the making.

I believe in The Soul of New Orleans.

Who Dat, indeed.

And if you ever don’t feel pumped enough, watch this highlight reel: